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All City of Atlanta employees have concerns about the balancing of the city budget. PACE believes in keeping union members abreast of all City Council Meetings for Budget inputs. Major Franklin wrote a recent statement on how the City Council’s decision will affect both employee’s of the City of Atlanta and the Residence of the City of Atlanta. Mayor Franklin’s Statement on recent Atlanta City Council Budget Action includes the flowing:
“To balance the budget on the backs of employees is irresponsible, when they were offered an alternative of a modest tax increase in an effort to preserve gains in public safety and to maintain core services. The Council had the authority to do this but it is an unwise business decision and represents one of the worst public policy decisions I have seen in my 20 year professional career and it will have negative ramifications for the quality of life for the people of Atlanta.”
On Friday June 27, 2008 the Budget Commission Meeting commenced, The Mayor of Atlanta Shirley Franklin opened with new recommendations for Electing Officials for the Budget Commission Meeting. The nominations were:
For Chair Mayor Franklin nominated: Jim Maddox, the nomination was approved. For Vice Chair Mayor Franklin nominated: Howard Shook, the nomination was approved. The Budget Commission Meeting board members also included former CFO Janice Davis and Cleta Winslow, and among the attendee’s was City Council Woman Felicia A. Moore. Mayor Franklin advised the commission board of her dissatisfaction in the General Funds Operating budget proposals and requested to vote separately on that issue.
Janice Davis indicated that the negative impact to the budget will be determined by the economic conditions in FY09 and it may have some negative impacts on departments in the City of Atlanta in the future.
The City of Atlanta Council also had an open meeting for citizens to make comments concerning the milliage rates. One Citizens Mr. Ed Gilgore- commented on his disappointment of City Council Members missing from the open forum, he also believe the City Council cutting there own budget is not dependable and must be professionally handled by personnel with experience.
Vicki McCone- Expressed her disappointment about the missing
council members, the way property tax increase has tripled higher than income, she
gestured this is forcing home owners to leave the city of Atlanta because they
can not afford the higher taxes, and she wanted to know where this would leave
the city in terms of revenue.
Other concerns by the citizens of Atlanta:
On citizen asked if an Audit of Job Titles and Salaries had been performed to decide if these positions are still necessary, and if supplies purchased by the city had been audited to see if there is a need to order some supplies. In conclusion this citizen asked the council if vehicle maintenance and the amount of city vehicles owned by the city were necessary. One citizen asked the council why they terminated parking meter employees who write tickets. He stated, “it is inappropriate because these are the personnel that create revenue for the City of Atlanta”. The majority of comments made by the citizens of Atlanta were against higher property taxes. One citizen wanted to know why a council person was sleeping during their address to the council.
Continue to return to www.PACEAtanta.org for more updates coming soon.